Device for tamping envelopes



April 29, 1969 B. E. HANSON DEVICE FOR TAMPI NG ENVELOPES 'Filed June 1,1967 INVENTOR- BROR E. HANSON 7 BY I warm/Jo, Mr

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,441,268 DEVICE FOR TAMPING ENVELOPESBror E. Hanson, Worcester, Mass, assignor to United States EnvelopeCompany, Springfield, Mass, 21 corporation of Maine Filed June 1, 1967,Ser. No. 642,786 Int. Cl. B6511 31/38 US. Cl. 271-89 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates totamping devices for use with envelope handling machines, and deals moreparticularly with a device which is self-contained and can be used withan inclined ramp of the type normally provided adjacent the deliverywheel of a conventional envelope flap folding and stacking mechanism.

The general object of the present invention is to pr vide aself-contained envelope tamping, or jogging device, having a minimumnumber of moving parts, as a result of which the device is rendered veryreliable in service.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and suchembodiment will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the construction disclosed, and that thedrawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apreferred form of the present invention showing the delivery wheel of aconventional envelope flap folding and stacking mechanism, and alsoshowing a generally horizontal table onto which the folded envelopes arefed by the line pressure of envelopes being continuously handled by asaid delivery wheel.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with a portion ofthe inclined ramp, located between the delivery wheel and the table,being broken away to reveal the cam and follower mechanism therebeneath.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing in greater detail,FIG.

1 shows a conventional envelope delivery wheel 10 for deliveringsuccessive completed envelopes E from a flap folding mechanism (notshown) onto a ramp which is mounted in fixed relation to a stackingtable 22.

The ramp 20 is of conventional construction, having an upstream end 24adjacent the circumference of the delivery wheel 10 for receivingenvelopes E, E conveyed thereto in the notches 26, 26 of the deliverywheel 10. As best shown in FIG. 2, the delivery wheel 10 normallycomprises end discs 30, 30 which are adjustably mounted on a shaft 32.The envelopes E, E may be held to the delivery wheel 10 by providing anegative atmospheric pressure at the circumference of the wheel 10 inthe area of the notches 26, 26 through suitable means, indi- "ice catedgenerally at 34, located intermediate the end discs 30, 30. Still withreference to the conventional structure shown, guide clips 36, 36 may beprovided on the upstream end of the ramp 24 for guiding the envelopes E,it onto the ramp 20. The ramp 20 may be supported on a horizontallyextending bar 40 adjacent its upstream end, with the downstream end ofthe ramp 20 resting upon the stacking table 22.

In accordance with the present invention, means is provided at eitherside of the ramp 20 for tamping or jogging the ends of the envelopes E,E as they are being fed down the ramp 20 in order to align them onebehind another so that groups thereof can be more readily packed incontainers or the like at some downstream location on the stacking table22. Preferably, and as shown, the mechanism for tamping the ends of theenvelopes comprises a pair of generally vertically disposed tamperblades 42, 42 which are mounted, cantilever fashion, on upright posts44, '44 at the side of the ramp 20. The lower end of each post 44 ismounted in a block 46, which block is attached to the underside of theramp 20. These posts 44, 44 provide a convenient means for clamping thedownstream end of each tamper blade 42, and it is a feature of thepresent invention that the blades 42, 42 are fabricated from a resilientmaterial, such as spring steel, 50 that the free end portions thereofcan be vibrated laterally toward and away from one another in afundamental vibration mode consistent with the cantilevered mounting.

While the downstream .end portion of each tamper blade 42 may take anyconvenient shape, preferably, and as shown in FIG. 2, each such bladeincludes a laterally outwardly bent portion adjacent its downstream end,which portion is welded or otherwise secured to the lateral edge of itsassociated upright post 44. The intermediate portion of each blade 42 isgenerally flat so as to abut a large number of envelopes E, E during itsvibratory motion. The upstream end of each tamper blade 42 is preferablyflared outwardly as shown in FIG. 2 to guide the envelopes E, E betweenthe tamper blades 42, 42 as they are being fed by the line pressure ofoncoming envelopes across the ramp 20.

In further accordance with the present invention, means is provided forvibrating the free end portions of the blades 42, "42 in unison towardand away from one another in a tamping, or jogging, action which servesto align the envelopes on the ramp. A cam follower link 48 associatedwith each tamper blade 42 carries a cam follower 50 at its inner end,and the resiliency of the blade 42 holds the cam follower 50 inengagement with a rotary multi-lobe cam 52 which is rotatably supportedbelow the ramp 20.

Each cam follower link 48 is generally L-shaped having an upstanding legwhich is welded or otherwise secured to the tamper blade 42 intermediatethe upstream and downstream ends thereof, and preferably at a point suchthat the blade can be vibrated in its fundamental mode as a result oflateral movement of the link 48 in a direction perpendicular to theneutral axis of the tamper blade 42. Preferably, each link 48 isconnected to its associated blade 42 approximately one third thedistance between the downstream and upstream ends. As best shown in FIG,2, the link 48 includes a horizontally extending leg ofadjustablelength, being made in two parts to permit use of the device intamping or jogging envelopes of various lengths.

The multi-lobe cam 52 defines at least one pair of diametrically opposedlobes for simultaneously urging the cam followers 50, 50 in an outwardlateral direction, and for simultaneously allowing the resiliency of theblades 42 to return the cam followers inwardly in a tamping motion foraligning envelopes on the ramp 20. As shown two such pairs ofdiametrically opposed lobes are provided on the cam 52, which cam issecured to the output shaft 54 of an electric motor 56. The motor 56 ismounted on an annular ring 58, which ring 58 is in turn bolted to fourdepending studs 60, 68 attached to the underside of the ramp 20.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for use with a generally horizontal ramp across which aplurality of envelopes are adapted to be conveyed in edgewise front toback relation, said device comprising a pair of vertically disposedtamper blades movably mounted cantilever fashion at opposite sides ofsaid ramp for flexing movement toward and away from the side edges ofthe envelopes on said ramp, and means for so flexing said blades inunison toward and away from one another for aligning said envelopes onsaid ramp.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 and further characterized by meansfor clamping each of said tamper blades adjacent its downstream end, sothat the upstream end thereof can be vibrated in a fundamental vibrationmode consistent with its cantilevered mounting.

3. A device for use with a generally horizontal ramp across which aplurality of envelopes are adapted to be conveyed in edgewise front toback relation, said device comprising a pair of vertically disposedtamper blades movably mounted at opposite sides of said ramp formovement toward and away from the side edges of the envelopes on saidramp, mean for moving said blades in unison toward and away from oneanother for aligning said envelopes on said ramp, said means for movingsaid blades comprising a continuously driven cam rotatably supportedbelow said ramp, and two cam followers having inner ends for engagingdiametrically opposed points on said cam, said cam followers havingopposite ends connected to said blades respectively.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 and further characterized by meansfor clamping each of said tamper blades adjacent its downstream end, theupstream ends of said blades having outwardly formed lips for receivingnon-aligned envelopes therebetween.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 and further char- 4 acterized inthat said opposite ends of said cam followers are connected to saidblades intermediate said upstream and downstream ends respectively.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 and further characterized in thatsaid rotary cam has at least one pair of diametrically opposed cam lobesfor moving said blades synchronously.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 and further characterized in thatsaid rotary cam has more than one such pair of cam lobes, and said blademoving means further including a continuously driven motor having adriven shaft upon which said cam is mounted.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 and further characterized in thatsaid blades are formed of resilient material, and wherein said bladesupporting means comprises an upright post associated with each of saidblades, said blades being mounted in cantilever fashion to posts so thatdownstream portions of said blades adjacent said posts flex causingoscillatory movement of the upstream portions.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 and further characterized and thatsaid opposite cam follower ends are connected to said bladesapproximately one third of the distance between said post associateddownstream blade ends and said upstream ends respectively.

10. A device as set forth in claim 8 and further characterized in thatsaid opposite cam follower ends are connected to said blades at pointsbetween said post associated downstream blade ends and said upstreamends respectively such that said blades are vibrated in theirfundamental mode.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,602,554 7/1952 Griflith 198-292,815,111 12/1957 Capps et al 19829 2,853,298 9/1958 Faeber 271-893,175,822 3/1965 Benson 27l-89 3,236,162 2/1966 Reist 271-89 ANDRES H.NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

